Focused On The Prize I have many images of Osprey pulling fish from the ‘darkling drink’ as well as flying with their catch held tenaciously in talon. I chose to present something a bit different today. This one highlights a micro-moment just before hitting the water. Plunging toward its prey, the fish hawk was intently focused on the prize. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, Focused On The Prize © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Single Tree Across the open wide expanse a single tree does strike a stance. In its solitary pose a statement of the self it shows. The individual stands alone, it will never be dethroned. For in conviction dwells its strength, to carry on at such great length. Just be sure to understand a price is paid to bear this brand. The quality of self-reliance oft requires great defiance. Go alone who stand as one and fight until the battle’s done. So independents need to be, to offer hope to the collective sea. Across the open wide expanse a single tree does strike a stance. ~ Poem and Scenic capture, A Single Tree © Jerry L. Ferrara. A view of the Scenic Palouse
Hey Bear Walking down the path you go lumber, lumber – oh, so slow. Is there anyone who’d dare take you on, Oh Mighty Bear? For this I have some serious doubt. So for now I will not shout as such a move may startle you, something not so wise to do. As I walk the narrow way guaranteed, no I won’t stay. So at an angle forty-five my course to you I will but strive. And if you choose to walk on by, I will merely say there, hi! …say VERY softly: Hey Bear ~ Poem and Coastal Brown Bear capture, Hey Bear © Jerry L. Ferrara
On A Spree A flash of yellow from alder tree betrays a presence … what could it be? There one moment, then it’s gone. The furtive spirit lasts not long. It sings a melody so bright, a stream of notes from such a sprite. The pleasing chords tell who you be: A Yellow Warbler on a spree! ~ Poem and Yellow Warbler capture, On A Spree © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Call of Fall The call of FallOft leads to brawlThe eerie wrawlTurns free-for-all ~ Poem and Rocky Mountain Elk capture, The Call of Fall © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Final Touch While its mate waits patiently on their rocky Antarctic nest, a Gentoo Penguin puts on the ‘final touch’. ~ Anecdote and Gentoo Penguin capture, The Final Touch © Jerry L. Ferrara
BEWARE With its nose up in the airMight you feel that chilly stare?BEWARE the Polar Bear Scientists believe Polar Bears are “super sniffers”. They’ve been accredited with being able to smell their target prey [seals] at long distances. ~ Anecdote, poem and Polar Bear capture, BEWARE © Jerry L. Ferrara
This Long-billed Curlew, the largest of North America’s shorebirds, was caught early one Texas morning along with its doppelgänger. The Promise The morning was subdued and gentle. It arrived without haste in increments that were imperceptible … until it was just there. The wind was notably absent, so the air had no vitality and the placid backwater’s calm veneer boasted to the open sky of how it would grasp all that came near. As the Long-billed Curlew rested on the rocky spit, its likeness was held captive and the promise was kept. So the water told the sky I will seize all who come nigh,and their spirits I’ll hold tight ’til the darkness of the night. ~ Anecdote, poem and Long-billed Curlew capture, The Promise © Jerry L. Ferrara
Just As The Light Passed Away It was deep in the terminus of a clement day. The sun had retired from the haze-filled horizon but its faltering remains still dwelt in the landscape. We moved without hurry. Our hope was for a glimpse at “something” in the dwindling crepuscular light. That “something” almost always seemed to appear just as aspirations waned. As the path meandered this way and that, a stark visual presentation materialized against the monochromatic sky. Silently, a Great Horned Owl sat stoically in the barren branches of a tree…a perfect effigy of a predator in waiting. It was both a thrill and a fortunate moment, just as the light passed away. ~ Anecdote and Great Horned Owl image, Just As The Light Passed Away © Jerry L. Ferrara
From July, 2020: Far Traveler Far Traveler, where have you been? Across the void and back again? Your journey’s steeped so deep in time Appearance, you do make sublime Go hurtle quick ’round bright orb Eccentric path that brought you toward While solar force extracts a toll And leaves your icy form less wholeSo if you survive through this plight Back to the “cloud” will be your flight Years before return might be Seven thousand, possiblyAnd if your dust and ice return That coma’s nucleus will burn Referred you are as space debris Yet your past does seem a key From whence the solar system came Shaped by the hand of Holy Name. ~ Poem and Comet C2020F3 Neowise capture, Far Traveler © Jerry L. Ferrara.